Samuel b



(No Model.)

s. B. H. VANCE. GHANDELIER FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS. 1'0. 250 92.

Ptented-Dec. 13,181.

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UNTTE STATES Three.

P TENT SAMUEL B. H. VANCE,

on NEW YORK, N. Y.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 250,692, dated December 13, 1881.

Application filedMarch 21,1881. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL B. H. VANCE, of New York city, New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chandeliers for Electric Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention aims to provide an extensible chandelierfor electriclamps,wherebythelamps may be raised or lowered to any desired position, as in the case of drop-lights, 850., without interfering with the conduction of the current to or from the lamps, and at the same time present-afinished and ornate appearance.

To this end the main feature of my invention may be stated to consist in the combination, with the fixed and movable parts of an extensible chandelier, of extensible conductors inclosed in orsustained by the parts of the chandelier, as hereinafter fully set forth.

Figure 1 of the annexed drawings presents an elevation of my improved electric chandelier, and Fig. 2 a cross-section thereof on 00 m. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of a modification.

In the drawings, a indicates the main supporting-tube of the chandelier, which screws at the top to a hollow yoke, b, which is surmounted by a coupling, 0, that screws to a nipple projecting from the ceiling in the manner of gas-fixtures. The tube a thus forms the outer fixed tube of the chandelier, and into this a central tube or rod, a, slides telescopically, so that the chandelier attached to the lower end of said rod may be raised or lowered to any desired position, in substantially the same way as is the case with chandeliers for gas. In theillustration the chandelier eproper is shown as simply of the harp form, with one electric lamp, f, of the incandescent kind; but the chandelier may support any desired number of lamps, and may be formed with a number of branching arms extending radially from the central rod, instead of the harp shape shown. The chandelier may of course be fitted with are lamps, as well as with lamps of the incandescent kind; but the latter are more particularly contemplated. The lamps f are normally fixed to, or are stationary on, the harp or chandelier 0, but are of course capable of removal therefrom when required for renewal,

adjustment, or repair. The chandelier, with its lamps, is balanced or suspended at any position to which it may be extended or raised by a metal ribbon, g, which winds upon a spring-drum, h, mounted in the yoke b, one end of the ribbon being secured to the drum, and the opposite end to the top of the extensible rod (1, so that the tension of the coilspring within the drum counteracts the weight of the chandelier, and with the slight friction of the sliding parts serves to retain the chandelier at any position to which it may be set, and renders the raising and lowering thereof an easy motion. This same suspending and sustaining device is of course commonly employed in gas-fixtures, and forms no part'of, and is not essential to, my present invention, for anyother sustaining or suspending device may be used in its place.

Now, the main feature of my invention consists in extensible conductors inclosed in, sustained by, or forming part of the chandelierslide, whereby the current is conveyed to the lamp or lamps of the chandelier in a certain manner without affecting the free extending or contracting motion of the slide. Thus indicate the circuit wires conveying the current from the generator or source of electricity, which preferably extend along the ceiling, as usual, and connect to the top of the chandelier within an ornamental escutcheon, i, inclosing the top and concealing the wires, as shown. I prefer to have one wire-say the positiveconnect directly to the metal of the chandelier itself, which serves as one conductor, as illustrated, the wire connecting directly to a binding-screw, k, on the top of the yoke b, and the positive current thence descending through the yoke and through the outer tube, a, to the metal collar or head Z on the end of the tube, from which a conducting spring, m, projects and bears on the sliding rod (1, by which the current continues its course through the said rod and through the harp e, or the arms of the chandelier, to one pole of the lamp or lamps f, as fully illustrated in Fig. 1. The negative wire 1' preferably enters a nipple, a, on the opposite side of the yoke, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, and passes down through the hollow of the yoke and down through the outer tube, a, be-

tween the same and the inner rod, d, as seen in Fig. 2, the wire being of course covered and insulated from the chandelier alongits course, but finally connected metallically to a conducting-spring, 0, fixed on the opposite side of the collar 1. This spring 0 is of course insulated from the collar l, as indicated, and bears upon a conducting strip, 19, let into one side of the sliding rod (1 and insulated therefrom, as shown best in Fig. 2, and the lower end of this strip connects metallically to a concealed covered wire, r, which is run through the tubes of the harp cand connects to the opposite pole of the lamp, as clearly indicated in Fig. 1'.

It will thus be seen that by this construction extensible conductors are formed between the fixed and extensible parts of the chandelierslide, and that these conductors are inclosed in and concealed by the parts of the chandelier, and hence do not project from the exterior thereof in any conspicuous or salient manner, which would render them unsightly or leave them liable to injury from many causes if exposed. Hence by this means not only is a more perfect and finished chandelier produced, but the conduction of the current to the lamp or lamps is rendered uniform and certain in wh atever position the chandelier may be placed.

In lieu of the form of extensible conductors shown in Fig. 1, any other suitable form may be used. Thus in Fig. 3 both the outer guide, a, and inner slide, (7, are tubular, as shown, and inclose an extensible spiral conductor, t, which may either be made of strong elastic spring-wire or of a number of fine wires braided together, so as to give flexibility without springiness. This spiral is of course covered and insulated from the chandelier, but fixed at its top end to the yoke b, and at its lower end to the slide d, and connected with the upper and lower parts of the concealed negative wire 2" 1", which is arranged substan tially as in Fig. 1. The current therefore enters through the metal of the chandelier, as in Fig. 1, and leaves through the concealed negative wires, and the spiral t, which is freely extensible or contractible with the slide. This modification, as will be observed, has the advantage over Fig. 1 that the conductors are entirely concealed in the chandelier, and the connections are continuous or unbroken, and do not depend partly on sliding connections, as in Fig. 1.

In lieu of having the conductor t in the form of a true spiral, it may of course be in the form of a slack loop or length of flexible wire, with just sufficient slackness to allow the full extension of the chandelier, and sufficient flexibility to readily bend or fold up within the tubes when the chandelier is contracted or raised, as will be readily understood. Again,

in some cases the suspending-ribbon 9 may be utilized as one of the conductors by having it and the drum h insulated from the chandelier, and insulated wires extended therefrom to the lamp and the generator, in substantially the same manner as already illustrated.

What I claim is 1. An extensible chandelier for electric lamps, constructed with one or more extensible conductors sustained on and inclosed by the extensible parts of the chandelier, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. An extensible chandelier for electric lamps, having one circuit-wire connecting to the metal of the chandelier, and the same acting as one conductor to or from the lamp, and a concealed insulated extensible conductor passing through the extensible part of the chandelier, r d forming the second conductor to or from the lamp, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. The combination, with the fixed and extensible parts a d of a chandelier-slide, of one or more stationary electric lamps, f-, sustained by the said extensible part cl and extensible conductors extending from said lamp to the upper end of the said fixed part a, substantially as herein shown and described.

SAML. B. H. VANCE.

Witnesses:

J. T. DENNIS, EDWARD A. O. KAYSEL. 

